Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti has disclosed that Neymar has told his team-mates he is ready to join Paris Saint-Germain.
Rumours about Neymar’s sensational move to PSG intensified when reports suggested that the Ligue 1 side are keen on matching his mammoth release clause, with Catalan sports outlet daily Sport claiming that the Brazilian player’s representatives believe that it is high time that their client move out of Lionel Messi’s shadow at Barcelona – and be the main man in some other club.
Paris Saint-Germain want to lure him away and are ready to match the Brazilian superstar’s €222 million (£196m) release clause.
Earlier on Monday, Barcelona technical director Robert Fernandez had made it clear that the Catalan club have received no offers for any of their players during this summer transfer window. He also cleared the air that no club have shown interest in meeting the whooping release clause in Neymar’s new contract, which will keep the Brazilian at the club until June 2021.
He said: “I don’t think that will happen,” when asked if a club would meet Neymar’s €222million (£196m) buy-out clause.
But now it appears that the a £195million deal is imminent after fellow team-mate Umtiti revealed that Neymar has informed the squad that he willing to part ways with Barca to join PSG this summer.
According to French news outlet Le Parisien, the news has reached the Catalan club’s dressing room, with Neymar revealing that he wants to play under Unai Emery.
WOW.
Lyon’s ex correspondent, Leroy, guarantees that Umtiti has confirmed to him that #Neymar to PSG is done. https://t.co/kWBFKqc6Pc
— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStat) July 21, 2017
The report also states that the Barca hierarchy have accepted the fact that they are on the verge of losing Neymar after only four years for a transfer fee that will break all existing records.
The world record move will see Neymar join his international team-mates Dani Alves and Thiago Silva at the Parc des Princes.
However, the report contradicts club president Josep Bartomeu, who accentuated that his prized asset is not for sale.
Speaking on Thursday, he said: “He is not on the market.”
“He has a contract for the coming four years and, of course, we count on him. He’s part of our team. He’s part of this trident.”
“These clauses are impossible to activate, if you want to comply with the financial fair play. If someone doesn’t want to comply, then of course it can be activated.”
PSG want to sign both Sanchez and Barca superstar Neymar as they want to see themselves as a dominant Champions League force.
And PSG boss Unai Emery is hoping that PSG can seal the deal for the Brazilian, which will smash all current transfer records.
He said: “Neymar has progressed a lot, the club is working to attract top five players. It’s not easy but we might succeed.”
Neymar had displayed magical form to stop PSG from progressing in last season’s Champions League. He anchored the Barcelona attack in that fairy-tale 6-5 aggregate win as he scored a quick brace from an incredible free-kick, a penalty and later assisted in the 95th-minute winner- all within seven minutes and left the French side flabbergasted.
Many had thought that he finally stepped out of Messi’s shadow to become Barcelona’s most prized asset. But in reality he is still behind the Argentine legend.
Neymar was sent off after receiving a double warning in their 2-0 defeat to Malaga just after few weeks and he was handed a further game’s suspension when he mocked the fourth official while heading towards the tunnel. And as a result he missed the high-octane El Clasico clash two weeks later.
Barcelona outplayed Real Madrid without the services of Neymar and all thanks to a 92nd-minute winner from the ‘legend’, Lionel Messi.
It showed the world that Messi is still the undisputed king at the Camp Nou and how challenging it would be for Neymar to take his place.
Earlier on Friday, Neymar took to Instagram and posted a picture showing him in deep thought, as if he is thinking about a staggering £195m offer from PSG.
And to every Barca fan’s surprise, the post was liked by PSG trio Kevin Trapp, Marco Verratti and Angel Di Maria.
Madrid paper AS claimed that Neymar’s father will jet out to Paris in order to hold talks over the sensational move with PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi this week.
Neymar also posted a snap of him and his father on a private jet on Friday, adding spark to rumours that a meeting between the two parties is actually going to take place.
French journalist Mohamed Bouhafsi claimed on Twitter: “An appointment is scheduled quickly between the father of Neymar and Antero Henrique to discuss contractual terms.”
“It is the entourage of Neymar who came in contact with the PSG and who took the first step to reopen discussions.”